Obituary: Nawnly Judith Brutus

Well-known Haitian singer, Nawnly Judith Brutus, died Monday, July 21, 2014 at Holy Cross Hospital in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Her express request stipulates that her post mortem body be kept out of the public eye in order for her to be remembered as the vibrant, energetic, and charismatic person that she was in life. A memorial service, thus, will be held in her honor on Saturday, August 2, 2014 at Église Baptiste Béthanie located at 2200 NW 12th Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33311. In tandem and in the presence of other family members and friends who are unable to come to Florida, another memorial will be held in Fort Worth, Texas where she will be laid to rest.

With birth parents Jude Elien Brutus (deceased) and Berthe Elimène Calixte, Nawnly Judith was born on May 6, 1974 in Lapointe des palmistes, Haiti, and became the daughter of the late minister Dessan Lilite and his wife, Tulia Morvan Lilite. Having graduated from the prominent ENARTS School in Haiti, she sang a varied repertoire including oratorio, opera, Christian contemporary, jazz, and Konpa boosting the Haitian scene with a noteworthy discography. Her fame came from winning the second prize at the 1998 Konkou Chante Nwel (Christmas Song Contest) in Haiti and singing with top Haitian group Alabanza for 13 consecutive years. Most recently, she founded Music & Arts, Inc., an organization with a mission to train and assist young artists in various genres.

She will be remembered as a visionary, a rock, and a pillar in the lives of many. She was a fierce overcomer of challenges, a daughter who loved her parents, a sister who selflessly gave of herself, a cousin and an aunt who cared, and a loyal friend to a fault.

In addition to both of her fathers, she was preceded in death by her twin brother, Jude Eben, and her brother, Simon Serléus. She is survived by her grandmother, Sagrace Brutus; birth mom, Berthe Elimène Calixte, and siblings, Gilbert, Emmanuel, and Julienne; mom, Tulia; siblings, Jeanne Pierre and her husband, Madère, Jean Osee Lilite and his wife, Jodèle, Azer Lilite and his wife, Johane, Obedda Lilite Alexis and her husband, Henry, Magda Lilite Bonny and her husband, Manassé, Louima Lilite and his wife, Dephanie, Ecclesiaste Theodore and his wife, Rosa, Serléus Simon’s wife, Margarette; aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, and nephews, and friends.